Improvement in fence-posts



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Mm, PHDTOU1HOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON D C PATENT 5 Pr ce.

- E. PHILLIPS, OF CENTRAL SQUARE, NEW YORK.

'IMI RO IEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 177,658, dated May 23, 1876 application filed January 3, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit-known that I, JoHN E. PHILLIPS, of

Central Square, Oswego county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Portable Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

position of the rails to which the post is applicable, as circumstances may require.

This invention has relation to posts for portable fences; and its object is to so construct the post that the number of rails may be increased or decreased, and their positions changed, as circumstances may require.

My invention, therefore, consists in afencepost, constructed of four oblique bars attached to a horizontal base-piece, said bars crossing each other at their tops, andfour short bars, secured to the oblique bars, whereby a series of spaces is presented for the rails, so that a fence may be constructed of a larger or smaller number of rails, and their position changed to adapt said fence to varying unevenness in the surface of the ground upon which the posts rest. 1

In describing the purposes and advantages, as well as the construction, of my improved fence-post, I shall first describe its construction, and then refer to the several figures of the drawing in their order, as better illustrating the application of the fence-post'to the varying inequalities in the surface of the ground.

The post as seenin the several figures is composed of a horizontal base-piece, A, to

which are secured at their lower ends oblique bars B B, said bars crossing each other at their tops to form a fork, as shown at a, for the reception of the rider. Two more oblique bars, 0 U, somewhat shorter in length, are placed inside and equidistant from the bars B B, and are also bolted or otherwise secured at their lower ends to the base A, and extend beyond their points of intersection with the bars B, forming spaces b b, for the reception of rails upon the outside of said bars. Additional bars D D are attached at their lower ends to the base A, and are connected to and flush with the bars B at their upper ends furthermore, short bars, E E are used, their .lower ends resting upon the upper edge of the base A. These several bars are all nailed or otherwise fastened at their points of intersection, thereby securing a perfect brace in every .part, the long oblique bars B B assisting in balancing and anchoring the fence-post.

A fence-post constructed as above described presents a large number of spaces for placing the rails, thereby adapting the post to a variety of different forms 01 fences, as may be found necessary, by decreasing or increasing the number of rails, and changing'the relative positions, sixteen rail-spaces being produced, four central spaces, a 0 c c, for the doubling and lapping of rails when an extremely-close fence is desired, and ten other spaces, 1) b d d e e and ff 9 g, for the placing of single rails, each succeeding section of rails to be placed in opposite spaces, the spaces h It being left at the extreme side ends of the post for the reception of rails for anchoring the post and preventing it from being blown or knocked down.

It will be readily seen that with my improved post having the spaces arranged as described, a nine-rail fence maybe made when it is desired to make a close fence to prevent the very smallest animal from passing between the rails; and the number of rails may be decreased in forming fences for the several purposes which circumstances may demand. Having described the construction and the different changes which a fence may undergo with my improved post, I will now describe the various adaptions of the rails within the spaces, to bring the Weight or pressure upon certain portions of the post, in adapting it to the varying inequalities in the surface of the ground.

When the surface of the ground is level, or nearly so, the rails may be placed within the spaces as desired, increased or decreased in number, the anchor-rails not being necessary, but when a fence is required to be laid over a sharp depression, as illustrated in Fig. 2,the rails are placed, as therein shown, within the outside line of spaces b c d e, the anchor-rails being placed within the spaces h h. This arrangement of rails brings the pressure and weight gradually to the ends of the base A,

making a very firm and rigid fence, and preventing the danger of its being blown over.

Where there is a sharp elevation in the surface of the ground, it is also found necessary to bring the pressure and weight of the rails upon that portion of base which comes in 0011- tact with the surface of the ground, as wellas upon the ends, which would rest in this case upon suitable supports of stone, the arrangement and position of rails, therefore, being-illustrated in Fig. 3. The post is also well adapted to water-fencing, the rails in such cases being placed in the upper spaces a c d d, above the water, as fully shown in Fig. 4. This kind of fencing is many times required to prevent stock from wading from one farm to another; and a special construction of posts for this purpose has heretofore been found necessary.

It will be readily seen, therefore, that my improved post, in addition to the various changes of fences of which it is capable, is also especially adapted to all kinds of surfaces, and readilyadjusted to uneven or rough surfaces, and side-hills.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a fencepostcomposed of the horizontal, base-piece A,

and oblique'bars B O, crossing each other at their upper ends to form spaces a b, and at ther lower ends to form spaces h, for the reception of rails for anchoring the post, and the bars D E, the whole forming together a series of spaces, so that said post may be adapted to construct fences of a greater or less number of rails, and admitting of their position being changed to bring the weight or pressure of said rails at the center of sides of the post, as and for the purpose shown and described.

JOHN E. PHILLlPS.

Witnesses:

L. B. CAMPBELL, D. D. DRAKE. 

